The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a tight 1-1 series tie against the rival San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.
The stakes rise as Game 3 is set for Tuesday night, shifting the action to San Diego.
After the Dodgers took Game 1 on Saturday, the Padres bounced back decisively in Game 2, securing a dominant 10-2 victory.
A significant concern for the Dodgers is the performance of outfielder Mookie Betts, who has struggled offensively throughout the series.
Betts went 0-for-4 in Game 2, extending his postseason hitless streak to 22 at-bats.
Despite walking three times and scoring a run in Game 1, Betts remains without a hit this postseason.
Following the disappointing Game 2 loss, Betts candidly addressed his recent struggles.
“They’re all outs,” Betts said about the quality of his at-bats. “So they’re all terrible. I don’t know really what to say about it. I’m giving my best, doing my best. Obviously it’s not good enough right now.”
Despite a strong regular season in which he batted .289 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs over 116 games, Betts has struggled in the postseason.
He was hitless in the 2023 postseason when the Dodgers were eliminated in three games by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
His October troubles extend back to the 2022 postseason as well, where he managed only a .143 batting average in four games.
This ongoing trend has raised concerns as Betts continues to search for answers ahead of Game 3.
Manager Dave Roberts tried his best to calm down the panic surrounding Betts. He emphasized that the Dodgers are only two games into their postseason and that he’s “no worried.”
However, as we all know, Betts’ October struggles date much farther back than just two games.
Betts is far from the only MLB superstar who is dealing with playoff struggles, look no further than Aaron Judge of the Yankees. However, concern is growing in Los Angeles.
Betts, who is in the fourth season of a 12-year, $365-million contract, knows he needs to deliver if the Dodgers are going to have any shot at winning the World Series.
As Los Angeles aims to regain momentum, they will need more offensive production. The team managed only five hits in Game 2, with Max Muncy contributing two of those.
Betts is eager to break free from his slump and help the Dodgers take control of what has quickly become a feisty series against their in-state rivals.
What are your thoughts on Betts’ continued struggles? … Will he be able to break out of his slump in time???